A MAN jailed for stabbing a neighbour with a Rambo-style knife has told how he hopes the new year can bring him a fresh start in life.

Robert Cowan was locked up for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to attacking a neighbour when a row over noise at a Boxing Day party turned violent.

Now released from prison and trying to rebuild his life, he has spoken for the first time about what happened that night and claims he was only trying to protect his partner Leanne Anderson and their four children, including his terminally ill daughter Kimberley, who was sleeping just yards away from where the fight took place.

And he told of his heartache at being behind bars whilst knowing that he may never see Kimberly, now aged four, again.

He said: “The problems with the noise had been going on for months. It was about half 12 or 1am when I went round and asked them to turn the music down. Then next thing I saw six lads walk past my window and they came into my house.

“It was all a nightmare, like something out of a horror film. There was blood up the passageway. But I thought if I didn’t do it then we were going to die.

“I just want people to know that I was defending my family.”

Cowan’s daughter has Down’s Syndrome as well as heart and lung disease and has been in Newcastle’s RVI since February.

He said: “We have been told there is nothing more now that they can do for her and she is being given palliative care. I go every day and she’s so happy when we go to see her.

“We are hoping that they will let us bring her home so she can spend the last months of her life in more comfort.”

In February this year Newcastle Crown Court heard how the dad-of-four had the foot-long blade hidden in his waistband when he angrily complained about music from a party next door.

Guest John Preston tried to usher him away. But Cowan pulled out the knife, cutting the 25-year-old’s thumb in a struggle. And when the clash spilt into Cowan’s own home on Atkinson Road, Benwell, he stabbed Mr Preston in the body.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said “Police found him with a stomach wound and there was a lot of blood. He had a wound to a depth of 2-3in which needed surgery and he was in hospital for three nights.”

Cowan, who has previous convictions for violence and weapons possession, was jailed for 18 months after admitting wounding.